Caveolae-mediated entry of Salmonella typhimurium into senescent nonphagocytotic host cells

Aging Cell. 2010 Apr;9(2):243-51. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-9726.2010.00554.x. Epub 2010 Jan 20.

Abstract

Elderly individuals have an increased susceptibility to microbial infections because of age-related anatomical, physiological, and environmental factors. However, the mechanism of aging-dependent susceptibility to infection is not fully understood. Here, we found that caveolae-dependent endocytosis is elevated in senescent cells. Thus, we focused on the implications of caveolae-dependent endocytosis using Salmonella typhimurium, which causes a variety of diseases in humans and animals by invading the eukaryotic host cell. Salmonella invasion increased in nonphagocytotic senescent host cells in which caveolin-1 was also increased. When caveolae structures were disrupted by methyl-beta-cyclodextrin or siRNA of caveolin-1 in the senescent cells, Salmonellae invasion was reduced markedly compared to that in nonsenescent cells. In contrast, the over-expression of caveolin-1 led to increased Salmonellae invasion in nonsenescent cells. Moreover, in aged mice, caveolin-1 was found to be highly expressed in Peyer's patch and spleen, which are targets for infection by Salmonellae. These results suggest that high levels of caveolae and caveolin-1 in senescent host cells might be related to the increased susceptibility of elderly individuals to microbial infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Caveolae / physiology*
  • Caveolin 1 / genetics
  • Caveolin 1 / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cellular Senescence*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Salmonella typhimurium / physiology*

Substances

  • Caveolin 1